Sin entered the world and turned it into a wasteland. Into this wasteland, this wilderness, God-Creator must send the Word (Logos) through Whom everything came to existence. It was the mission of the Son to recreate and renew His Father's creation and turn it over to Him at the end of time. This wasteland does not refer only to the external world but to what is inside the human person as well.
Because of the inability of the human person to comprehend realities beyond the realm of the senses, the Word must take on human form (Incarnation). Before the Word started His public ministry, God sent John to prepare for the coming of His Son. John gave voice to the Word so that the Word, when welcomed by people, can take root in them.
Matthew in today's Gospel reading begins with the wasteland in the political - Tiberius Caesar as ruler of the Roman Empire, Pilate, governor of Judea, Herod and so ans so as this and that. It even includes the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, likewise given to the political. Opposed to this is the call of John to repentance through baptism and the announcement of the coming Messianic kingdom.
What Matthew is emphasizing here is the fact that the coming Messiah is concerned more about the cleansing of that internal wasteland so that from there the external might take on a godly shape. Matthew is pointing out the religious and spiritual as the reason for the coming for the Promised One than what was then expected by Israel - a political uprising and carried out by the Messiah Himself.
John the Baptist as the Word's herald served as the voice to call people to repentance and prepare them for his coming. The Greek word for repentance is metanoia Originally it meant a change of mind. In the new Testament, however, it takes on a deeper meaning. it is the deliberate coming of a person to his/her senses ensuing in a change of ways, a change of conduct. Repentance as symbolized by baptism in the hands of John fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah.
It is Word that makes metanoia possible. When metanoia is in every human heart, then the Messianic Kingdom spoken of by Matthew from Isaiah has undoubtedly come and continues to exist, making this wasteland created by sin fertile and fruitful again.
Fr Jess A Enciso
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